Looking for a midlife career change

[doozer12]

Hello, I am a 38 yr old Automotive technician with a high school diploma. I recently started taking courses at my community college to further my education. I have a desire to move on to a different career field as I am very unsatisfied with my current one.

I am struggling with the decision of what degree I would like to pursue. I was originally thinking about an engineering degree of some kind, but after taking a few basic college courses, I am not so sure if that is what I want.

I enrolled into a liberal arts program in order to just "get my feet wet" and get the feel for going back to school. Of course it is only on a part time basis, I am currently only enrolled in one course this symester. I thought that I would see what courses would interest me so I can make a better decision as to my direction. After taking some english and writing courses, I have realized I really enjoy writing. I think I would enjoy pursuing a degree in english. I do not know what, if anything, I would do with this degree. Is it practical for someone in my situation?

I have been thinking more about an engineering degree, just for the fact that I have seen alot of jobs that require one.

As an example, a large power company that has facilities near me is having a job fair soon. I checked into the job openings they have listed on their website and some of them sound interesting. A large number of the jobs they offer do require some sort of degree. However, I feel I would be qualified for some of the positions they offer in quality control.

Would it be a waste of time for me to attend the job fair? I am sure there are alot of overly qualified applicants out there right now.

I am torn. I am just not sure what to do. I am sure of one thing though, I need to eventually move out of the field I am in. My body is not going to take much more of it.

Some people have suggested going on to be a teacher, but this does not interest me at all. Also, it may take me 10 years to get a degree at the rate I am going, but I am ok with that.

If anyone has any advice to give, I would appreciate it.

Thank You!

[CleeIB]

Hi doozer12,

Thanks for sharing your background. It's great that not only are you looking into what you "should" do, you are also looking in what you "like to" do. The goal is to make the two objectives align.

An English degree is a tough row to hoe in this economy. If you get a degree in literature, that basically only qualifies you to work in academia. If you get a degree in writing - well, how many jobs out there do you see that require a degree in writing?

Some "safer" bets might be journalism (writing but in a practical context) or technical writing (a way to marry writing with your technical/engineering side - not terribly creative, but there can be good money in it).

It's not a waste of time to attend the job fair. Acquiring more information, especially about jobs that interest you, is rarely a bad thing.

One thing you have going for you is a willingness to take a while to achieve your goals. Whatever you pick, don't half-ass it and do what it takes to get there.

Good luck!

[doozer12]

I really appreciate the advice!

One of the reasons I am drawn toward a degree in english is from some advice I was given. I was told that an english degree is an excellent all around degree that can be applied toward any number of fields due to the emphasis on strong communication skills. I was told that many employers like to see a degree in english, even if the job is not directly related to it. Obviously, I know an english degree cannot be substituted for a specific, focused degree like electrical engineering or medical degree, however it may help land a job that isn't as specific. And at the same time, I find that i enjoy the english related curriculum. And of course, I can write fiction as a hobby if I find the time. Which is also an interest of mine.

I have thought about technical writing, but it does seem a bit "ho hum" for me. I have also thought about science writing, as I have always had an interest in science. There seems to be more science writing specific degrees out there now. But none available near me.

I suppose what I would really like to know is, will an english degree be useful in finding a job in a broad number of careers? Or, will it only be beneficial in a writing or teaching career?

Thank you again for the advice. I think I will check out that job fair as well, although I've never been to one.

[CleeIB]

Hi there,

As a holder of an undergraduate English degree (no specific emphasis), I have found it of little help in employment. The degree did introduce me to some great literature, but that is not something that requires a degree. Writing skills do benefit from a structured environment, but they need regular practice in order to flourish (Stephen King's On Writing is a must-read for any aspiring writer). Regular practice does not require paying for a degree. It just requires time put in - usually years (see http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2...urrentPage=all). I was a freelance music journalist for several years, and not one of my freelance gigs required a degree. They all just required a portfolio of proven quality.

For the types of things for which English degrees might be useful, other types of degrees carry more clout on job applications. These include degrees in communications, marketing, and journalism.

This all said, if academia is for you, and you want to brave those wilds, by all means go for it. You should do what is right for you, even if it is tough. Additionally, I don't know how much time you can devote to education, but perhaps you can get more than one degree/do a double major/get a major and a minor/etc.

Good luck at the job fair! You will want to dress professionally, have copies of your resume on hand, and be prepared to talk yourself up.